Three family weddings over the next four months put the death nails into any discussions about expanding my fleet, which is okay as I am really excited about getting my new/old canoe wet. Granted it is a tandem and I will be bow paddling facing the stern. Not a big deal and easy to trim.

I have read comments that the seat configuration makes for very difficult canoeing in windy conditions as one pushes the craft. In that situation, why not turn around and "pull" through the wind? Although I did this as a kid when screwing around paddling alone without a mission, I am curious if there are unforeseen issues that I am overlooking. Perhaps it is more than looking like a dork, a fashion I have held on many occasions just because I am more about efficiency rather than other's perception.

Thanks from a novice.

Not sure if I read you right but if you mean paddle backwards into the wind as opposed to paddling face into the wind? If that's what you mean then simply try it awhile and see how long your arms hold out, I've done it and my arms started to cramp up in about ten minutes and hurt like crazy all night, apparently that group of muscles aren't used much, I've never had any problem backing up for a snag but to paddle any distance against the wind NO NO NO. FRED

Sorry, my bad in describing my intent. I will be canoeing a tandem facing the stern. In wind conditions why not turn around and face forward, pulling the canoe. Sure I can and likely will try it in for size, but am wondering if there are issues I am unaware of.

I am a firm believer in if it works why not. I say try it. I suspect navigation from the front could be pretty tricky and you would be better adjusting weight to get the front a little heavier and paddle from the rear. Trim makes a big difference in wind. Weight is critical,too. I recall a rather mild breeze in an empty kevlar tandem and being unable to turn into the wind once sidewise to it.
Sorry you were unable to get your solo this year and happy you still get to go with three weddings.
Having tripped you know the basic principles of weight and trim and how they can effect how a boat handles and performs. In preparing for my upcoming trip I will be pre-packing the food to confirm weight/space/packing issues and then will paddle with packs loaded to gain comfort with that weight/trim element. It sure beats making adjustments once on the water and the first day's travel has been more successful since implementing this practice.

I used a yak paddle when soloing a tandem The longer reach can help get you out of trouble. The important thing when heading into the wind is to focus all the time. Start daydreaming and you will be paddling with the wind whether you want to or not.

If all of your weight is in one end of the canoe the wind will still affect the other end. It sounds like you're considering sitting on the bow seat and paddling (no one in the back), rather than facing the stern from the stern seat. Your canoe would probably be really out of trim from the stern facing stern position, since the bow seat is usually more centered in the canoe.
At some point you will probably need to turn to get where you're going or you may get out in the middle of the lake and the wind/ wave direction may change. I think that will be the point where you will have difficulties. The wind could blow the stern around and you would not really have a way to control it from the forward position or see what's going on in the back.

Is your reverse stroke as powerful and as yaw free as your forward stroke?

Unless you use good really good torso rotation and not use your arm muscles you will make yourself toast.

The reason tandems are a pain is of course the bow needs more weight in it when going upwind.. But too much weight will make it pin in the waves and be very hard to maneuver.

If you are considering this.. practice your reverse and your reverse J.

While paddling with my (at the time) five year old grandson, in order to properly trim the canoe due to our major weight difference, I typically was paddling from the bow seat facing the stern and he was in the stern seat just being a passenger.

Faced with paddling into a stiff wind, I tried turning around in the bow seat and facing the bow, with grandson still in the stern seat. The canoe then was too heavy in the bow (my fat a..) and it was very difficult to steer. The canoe did not try to "weathervane" on me because the lighter end was already in the rear, but it was just about impossible to steer.

So we resumed our normal positions with me in the bow seat facing the stern and him in the stern seat and had relatively little problem paddling into the wind.

quote MacCamper: "Sorry, my bad in describing my intent. I will be canoeing a tandem facing the stern. In wind conditions why not turn around and face forward, pulling the canoe. Sure I can and likely will try it in for size, but am wondering if there are issues I am unaware of."

I think I finally understand what you are asking.

First...is your canoe hull symmetrical, that is both bow and stern have the same height, rocker and shape? If not, you will have a difficult time steering sitting backwards in the bow seat. With a symmetrical hull, sitting reversed in the bow seat works fine especially in a shorter canoe.

Even with a symmetrical hull, if you are sitting backwards in the bow seat and then turn around to the forward position, the weight shift will affect the trim and make you bow heavy. You will also have a very difficult, or maybe impossible steering situation. The wind will play havoc with all that boat surface behind you and you will not see what is happening in time to correct it even if you could. I would not try this in a headwind, but if you do let us know how it turns out.

quote AndySG: "

quote MacCamper: "Sorry, my bad in describing my intent. I will be canoeing a tandem facing the stern. In wind conditions why not turn around and face forward, pulling the canoe. Sure I can and likely will try it in for size, but am wondering if there are issues I am unaware of."

I think I finally understand what you are asking.


First...is your canoe hull symmetrical, that is both bow and stern have the same height, rocker and shape? If not, you will have a difficult time steering sitting backwards in the bow seat. With a symmetrical hull, sitting reversed in the bow seat works fine especially in a shorter canoe.


Even with a symmetrical hull, if you are sitting backwards in the bow seat and then turn around to the forward position, the weight shift will affect the trim and make you bow heavy. You will also have a very difficult, or maybe impossible steering situation. The wind will play havoc with all that boat surface behind you and you will not see what is happening in time to correct it even if you could. I would not try this in a headwind, but if you do let us know how it turns out."

I was amazed at the weight shift of just turning around in my canoe. You are correct, in a moderate breeze the 'now tail end' of the canoe had a mind of its own. Flipping back around and facing the stern I had much more maneuverability. This experiment took place with both my double blade and single net shaft paddles. It didn't matter what paddle style I used, my 15 foot canoe is easiest to maneuver solo sitting in the bow seat facing the stern.

On another note, my 260 double blade has been a real treat and learned last week going into a stiff current and strong breeze that I was able to power through a section of river I likely would have struggled terribly upon with just my single blade, this from a pretty solid paddler.

My husband and I each solo paddle full size kevlar wilderness tripping canoes, even when on a trip together. If trimmed properly on a travel day (i.e., all gear in the canoe, more weight) paddling the regular way from the stern is usually no problem for me in wind. However, if we're out for a day trip (less gear/weight) and there's a good wind, I feel that I have a little more control if I turn the canoe around and paddle from the bow (canoe looks backwards, but I'm padding forward from the now-rear of the canoe). I have to reach a little wider with my stroke due to the width of the canoe at the bow seat, but it's not uncomfortable. Of course, I know my limits: once the whitecaps/winds appear to be building to a certain strength and there aren't sheltered areas to help with paddling strategy, it's time to get off the water. My husband always solo paddles from the stern...excellent paddler...he makes it look easy, like a hot knife through butter.

I'll admit that I kinda cringe when I see a photo of myself paddling with the canoe turned around backward (logo behind me), but then I remember what the conditions were like and how I was able to "hold my own" paddling that way in the wind/waves.

quote canoegal: "My husband and I each solo paddle full size kevlar wilderness tripping canoes, even when on a trip together. If trimmed properly on a travel day (i.e., all gear in the canoe, more weight) paddling the regular way from the stern is usually no problem for me in wind. However, if we're out for a day trip (less gear/weight) and there's a good wind, I feel that I have a little more control if I turn the canoe around and paddle from the bow (canoe looks backwards, but I'm padding forward from the now-rear of the canoe). I have to reach a little wider with my stroke due to the width of the canoe at the bow seat, but it's not uncomfortable. Of course, I know my limits: once the whitecaps/winds appear to be building to a certain strength and there aren't sheltered areas to help with paddling strategy, it's time to get off the water. My husband always solo paddles from the stern...excellent paddler...he makes it look easy, like a hot knife through butter.


I'll admit that I kinda cringe when I see a photo of myself paddling with the canoe turned around backward (logo behind me), but then I remember what the conditions were like and how I was able to "hold my own" paddling that way in the wind/waves."

Curious, why not just purchase two solo canoes?

quote Frenchy19: "

quote canoegal: "My husband and I each solo paddle full size kevlar wilderness tripping canoes, even when on a trip together. If trimmed properly on a travel day (i.e., all gear in the canoe, more weight) paddling the regular way from the stern is usually no problem for me in wind. However, if we're out for a day trip (less gear/weight) and there's a good wind, I feel that I have a little more control if I turn the canoe around and paddle from the bow (canoe looks backwards, but I'm padding forward from the now-rear of the canoe). I have to reach a little wider with my stroke due to the width of the canoe at the bow seat, but it's not uncomfortable. Of course, I know my limits: once the whitecaps/winds appear to be building to a certain strength and there aren't sheltered areas to help with paddling strategy, it's time to get off the water. My husband always solo paddles from the stern...excellent paddler...he makes it look easy, like a hot knife through butter.



I'll admit that I kinda cringe when I see a photo of myself paddling with the canoe turned around backward (logo behind me), but then I remember what the conditions were like and how I was able to "hold my own" paddling that way in the wind/waves."

Curious, why not just purchase two solo canoes? "

We want/need two full-size canoes. We bring a lot of pro camera gear on our trips, plus my dog accompanies me in my canoe. My husband needs the extra space for camera and other gear, particularly for his longer solo trips. Since it's not a problem solo-paddling a full size canoe, that seems to be a practical fit for us. (We do not travel light. Photography/videography is a huge priority for us on trips and we want the right tool for the job when we're out there. Our gear still needs to earn its space on trips though.)

In my twenties I paddled my little 15ft Pathfinder from the stern with my load properly trimming the canoe. It worked well for me and I'd be doing that today if that canoe wasn't so heavy. When empty I'd spin it and paddle from the bow seat.

Canoe gal... I paddled the last few years with a big dog and used a Wenonah Encounter. I never went light on the gear either and enjoyed many wonderful miles with my dog. That said, I think your doing what you need to be doing with what you have. There is many ways to do this canoeing thing and just the stability of the tandem with all that expensive photography equipment is worth a lot. I find paddling the bow seat sitting backwards solo my kayak paddle is a little easier and more efficient. That's just for me though...